Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s when I was growing up in Orlando, the Dr. Phillips area was mostly neighborhoods and doctors’ offices. Nowadays, this area - West Sand Lake Drive, in particular - has turned itself into the center of fine-dining in southwest Orlando.

On land that used to be orange groves, restaurants such as Mortons, Ruth’s Chris, Roy’s, Chatham’s Place, Seasons 52, Timpano Chophouse, Moonfish, The Melting Pot and more now reside. In addition to these fine-dining locations are some excellent casual eateries well worth a visit. Most notably, Press 101 features a very approachable wine list and some excellent starters, sandwiches and salads. To be perfectly honest, there’s not an appetite that this 2-mile stretch of road can’t please.

While we’ll definitely be covering these restaurants in more detail in the future, I feel the Dr. Phillips area is worth mentioning on its own. While much of the greater Orlando area has turned its focus to the tourism industry, these restaurants have a very local feel to them and haven’t fallen into the fast-paced, hectic schedule that a lot of travelers are expecting and often demand while on vacation.

It’s true that sitting down for a meal at many of these locations will cost you a pretty penny. As I stated previously, however, there plenty of options including some of the major fast food stops right in the middle of it all. A food-lover’s paradise, indeed.

Click for a map of Sand Lake Road

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